Hello everyone. I hope you are well and keeping safe.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus underscores the centrality of God in our life, even taking the place of those in our lives who have authority over us. One of his statements is to call no one "father," because we have but one heavenly Father.
That made me think of a story commonly told among priests. Monsignor Myles Bourke was a well known scripture scholar who taught at St. Joseph’s Seminary among other places. He became the pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in in Manhattan in Morningside Heights. One day in the middle of his homily, a man walked into the church and started to raise his voice as to interrupt Msgr. Bourke. He yelled, “Call no one 'Father'! Call no one 'Father'!” Msgr. Bourke stopped his homily and smiled and then said to the man, “You may call me 'Monsignor'!
Ah, the stories! They go on and on!
Today is the feast day of the Queenship of Mary. If you get the chance, go into the adoration chapel and check out the third stained glass window. It richly reflects this feast day. The Holy Spirit is symbolized by the presence of dove who hovers over the Blessed Virgin and two hands on both sides of the window are placing a crown on the Virgin’s head. I am sure they represent the Father and the Son.
Simply beautiful.
In any event, enjoy the day.
Would you please pray with me the “Hail Holy Queen!”
Hail, holy Queen, Mother of mercy, hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve: to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this vale of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus, O merciful, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary! Amen.